Wednesday, August 20, 2008

I Love You Bo!

It seems like everyone is nostalgic about their horses these days. Both Swamp Suburbia and Mrs. Mom have been writing about their horses-current and past ones!-and it has made me want to post some vintage photos of Bo and Amber. As some of you know, Amber leased Bo for five years, returned him to his original owner because she wanted him back, and received a phone call-after Bo being gone for five years!-that his owner wanted to give him to Amber because she was moving to Colorado.

There has also been a lot of talk, in horse blogging circles, about how many of us have had a special connection, with either a current horse or a horse from our past, and whether or not we will find that with another horse again. I am not done with my How It All Began story, and I know that I will never have the same level of intimacy-sounds kind of gross, but you know what I mean!-with another horse as I had with Shadest, but Bo and I definitely have something. When Amber previously had Bo, Shadest was still alive, and I had one, then two little kidlets, so I did not pay him a whole lot of attention, but I was the one who convinced Amber to lease him...because I thought that he had a cute personality (Amber thought that he was an ugly example of an Arab, but I told her that she had to look past that).

It was an awful day when Shelby, Bo's old owner, came and picked him up from my parents house five years ago, and I can still see Amber leading him into Shelby's trailer. We were not very happy about him leaving, because we had a feeling that he would just sit and not be used. Over the past five years, we were able to keep tabs on Bo Bo, because an old co-worker of mine lived near him, and drove by his pasture everyday (her daughter is the same age as Shelby, and showed with her for years). Needless to say, our worst fears were realized when she told us that he was out in his old pasture, with about six other horses, no shelter, and was only being fed once a day. Bo had clearly had a rough go of it, as his condition attested to when we got him back in May. Thank goodness he is once again "ours," and this time it is me who has developed a great relationship with him. Don't get me wrong,...Bo still loves Amber, but he is always happy to see me and the kidlets, and lets us know by nickering to us when we drive up to Amber's house. I love Bo Bo, and am glad that the two of us-as old and rusty as we may be!-have been able to return to horsemanship together. I love you Bo Bo!!!

Bo and my kidlets go waaaaay back! Here they are, with Amber, standing at my mom and dad's back door waiting for treats.Amber used to show Bo all of the time, and at some of the shows, once the performance classes were over, they used to do some gaming for fun. Bo Bo was quite the speed demon in his day-well actually, he still is!-and they usually cleaned up in gaming as well.One year at our county fair, Amber was asked to carry the 4-H flag on Bo. Didn't he look handsome back then?These are old copies from a photographer who took pictures of Amber and Bo at the Washington State Fair. He was always so handsome in his English attire.

Bo Bo looks silly in this one, but I posted it so you can see how un-marred his coat was. If you look at the pictures that I take of him now, he is covered with scars that he received during the past five years. Shelby told us that we would be shocked by his coat when he shed out, because he was involved in an accident on a bridge, while trail riding, and because the other horses in the pasture beat up on him pretty bad. I guess so!!!!

Ohhhh...and did you notice the tail bag??? That is for you Jewel! I told you that we understood the preparation that goes into making a gray Arabians tail look full and white!!! Sooooo...the point of this post was to say that "yes," you can find another equine buddy after having that special one...it's just a little different!

15 comments:

Oh wow! Bo was a gorgeous show horse at one time wasn't he? He's still a handsome, cute fella and I can see why you'd feel such a connection to him. He has such soft, gentle eyes and a kind face.He looks so happy to be back again where he belongs.

It's interesting how humans can fall in love and bond so quickly with cats or dogs, but with horses, it takes time for that to happen. As if we have to earn it.

I've owned my horse for 6 months now. Yesterday, Baby Doll made some kind of amazing spiritual connection and I can honestly say that I finally feel a close bond with my horse. I can say now that I love my girl.

Good story as usual Mel! The picture of Amber carrying the 4-H flag at the fair is one of my all time favorites. I can smell the onion burgers and cotton candy just looking at it. Doesn't anyone else hear the screams from the ferris wheel?

I'm back, as I was folding clothes I was reminded of how proud I was of Amber that evening cantering around the arena with that flag flying. She was chosen to carry the flag because of her varied career through the years showing in 4-H. From driving her very own Sienna(who by the way was born at a 4-H meeting)to riding the sometimes crazy grey gelding she always was a great showperson and a lovely young lady!

What a feel-good story! Bo must be a special boy. I love the picture of Amber and the kidlets with Bo. The kids are adorable and Bo looks proud. I have a special horse story to tell as well - one of the reasons i started the blog. My Babe was 40 years old when she died - i had her 32 of those years. I wish for you many happy years with your Bo.

Bo is a wonderful looking horse, I don't know why anyone would think he was an ugly Arabian. I think he is beautiful with lovely expressive eyes and a kind personality that shines through. Great story about a great horse, hope you have many years to come with him.

He is still very beautiful. Anytime a horse, dog, cat or whatever animal is with the owner they deserve they look beautiful. Thank goodness yall were able to get him back. No doubt he has a forever home with you.

That's a great story and I bet everyone involved is very happy to have things back to the way they are supposed to be.

I agree with you completely, that there can be more than one super special horse in your life. The love of my life is my old mare. She is 24 this year. Although she was born on our ranch and I broke her as a 2y/o, I bought her in April of her 3y/o year and have owned her for 21 years. Her son, Moon is my barrel horse and he is his mother all over again. Well, maybe not quite the same, but very special to me just the same. Those two always make me smile at feeding time, because both of them hang their heads over the fence and nicker, constantly, at feeding time. They look, act and sound exactly the same.

To all...thank you for sharing your thoughts on Bo Bo, as well as a teaser into some of your own special horse stories!!!Bo may not be perfect, but I love him and am so glad that I have had the opportunity to get to know him :)

Goodness, those pics sure show that Bo was really a fabulous little show horse! He reminds me a lot of my sister's half Arab Brandy in that gaming shot. Those little Arabs are sure fast at the gaming!It's obvious he has a special place in your heart and I'm glad he was able to find you again, and enjoy a more purposeful and happy life!

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About Me

Formerly known as the busy mom behind Horses, Kids, and Homework, I felt the need to reinvent my blog, as I am no longer a displaced student. I am now an actual bonafide social worker with a real job in the real world. I am still a wife, mother, and lover of all things equine, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope that you will continue to follow me as I stumble through this thing called life.